Marcell Koller emerges as top candidate to take over at Al-Jazira | OneFootball

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Koller shortlisted for vacant Al-Jazira post

Photo: KingFut.com

Former Al Ahly SC head coach Marcell Koller has emerged as a potential candidate to take over the vacant seat at UAE Pro League outfit Al-Jazira.

The Abhu Dhabi-based outfit recently parted ways with Hussein Ammouta after a dismal start to their 2025/26 campaign, falling to a 3-2 defeat to Khorfakkan, despite having an extra man advantage.

Jazira, on the back of a seventh-place finish in the league last season, are currently in eighth place in the 14-team championship.

While their performance in the league left a lot to be desired in the previous campaign, the club managed to clinch the ADIB League Cup at the expense of Shabab Al Ahli at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in April. It was their first trophy since winning the league in 2021.

Now, Jazira are set to usher into a new era, earmarking Koller as the leading candidate to take over from Ammouta according to the exclusive information gathered by Foot Africa. The ex- Ahly boss faces competition from Romanian tactician Edi Lordanescu.

Koller recently parted ways with the Egyptian champions after failing to reach the CAF Champions League final last season. The Red Devils were knocked out in the semi-final stage of the competition by South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns.

The Swiss tactician guided the record 12-time African champions to a staggering 11 titles, including two Champions League titles, four Egyptian Super Cup triumphs, two league trophies and as many Egyptian cup silverwares during his spell in Cairo.

Moreover, the 64-year-old serial winner has lifted the Bundesliga 2 with German outfit VFL Bochum in the 2005/06 season, the Swiss Cup with Basel in the 2018/19 term. In addition, Koller was crowned Swiss champion with St. Gallen and Grasshopper in the 1999/00 and 2002/03 terms respectively.

Should an agreement on personal terms be struck with Al Jazira, Koller will coach former France international Nabil Fekir and Egyptian star Ibrahim Adel, who completed a move to Al-Jazira from reigning African champions Pyramids FC in the off-season.